Awami League leader Haji Mohammad Salim has joined hands with the party-backed mayor candidate Sayeed Khokon to ensure the latter's victory in Dhaka South City Corporation polls.

Salim and Khokon along with other AL leaders offered Juma prayers at the Chawkbazar Shahi Masjid and had lunch together yesterday.

"He [Salim] has invited me to come to Chawkbazar mosque and offer Juma prayers. I have accepted his invitation," Khokon told reporters after saying the prayers.

"As a candidate, I have sought blessings from Muslims and he [Salim] also sought blessings," he said.

AL leaders Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Razzak, among others, were present during the prayers and lunch.

In response to reporters' query whether it is a violation of electoral code of conduct by campaigning outside the legally-set time frame, Khokon said, "Anybody can seek blessings. So, I don't see any violation of electoral code of conduct."

As per electoral code of conduct, campaigning is allowed only in the 21 days prior to the start of voting.

However, Salim, an independent lawmaker from Dhaka-7, neither talked to reporters on the spot nor could be reached over the phone last evening for his comment on the issue.

Earlier, he collected nomination paper to run for the mayoral post, but did not submit the paper.

Salim, also a joint general secretary of Dhaka city AL, decided to quit the race after "failing to secure party support".

The lawmaker had also 'submitted' his resignation letter to the Speaker, but later claimed that the resignation was not accepted. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina advised him to remain an MP, said party sources.

At a meeting on Thursday night, AL high-ups asked Salim to join Khokon's campaign and he agreed to do so.

Elections to the bifurcated Dhaka City Corporation and Chittagong City Corporation will be held on April 28.